Heard of Mr Wonder? Me neither. The concept is another one of these throw-away influencers who have somehow accumulated a ridiculous ton of wealth with zero talent or qualifications (sound bitter much?). This is validated in the It’s A Small World tour of their ‘billion dollar’ building, which is effectively an assault course on par with Squid Game, only there’s practically nobody here.
Mr Wonder has all the hallmarks of a low-budget horror title. The titular host is an elusive fellow in a bear suit, seen throughout the initial ride in random poses, with minimalist lighting and next to no elements in each room. Considering the amount of cash this influencer has, why the hell is it so ‘bear’ bones and cheap? Initial feelings in my water signified that perhaps Fume Software is a little thrifty. Then, as you progress through this barren, The Running Man house of horrors, it becomes clear that our delectable host has actually fallen on hard times and is currently on the run due to all the deaths on set.
Think Mr Beast, but some transparency with how you will earn your money, and also not having some loudmouth twot calling on an army of editors to put some skim on the cracks. You’re going to run through a series of challenges – both skilful and moral – to win the grand prize of millions. And, whilst the game show is very desolate with its literal behind-the-scenes corridors leading to each mini game, there will be other contestants mid-challenge who look like they could need a hand. Will you give them that?
After a few minutes into Mr Wonder, it became clear on the route it was going when a member of staff, dressed in Wonder-like garb, blows their brains out off-screen. Yeah, one of those. What’s so different about this is the initial menace of having something happen off-screen rather than right in front of you. Equally, there’s that voyeuristic element where you’re constantly being watched, Truman Show-style, without knowing who your audience is besides a sadistic furry. Without having any real experience of the Five Nights at Freddy’s series, I can quite honestly say that this game is a standout for the genre. Better than Willy’s Wonderland by far. The film AND the game.
For all the jabs at it being minimalistic at the beginning, it allows you to wack your settings up to ultra and see some really nice effects. From oversized rubber ducks to illuminated floor panels, the presentation is just right. I wish I could say the same about the voice for Mr Wonder. Using that influencer nod, he does sound like AI off a 2-a-penny spotty YouTuber who’s ChatGPT’d an idea and hoping to passively reel in the Bitcoin. Besides that, and the dubious protagonist with his Humphrey Bogart silhouette (is he a literal detective?!), those were my only beefs. That and first-person jumping. Yes, there are a fair number of ‘You Died’ title cards, but an equal amount of save points, so win-win.
